Approved: January 26, 2006
Date
MINUTES OF THE HOUSE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Jim Morrison at 1:30 P.M. on January 25, 2006, in Room 526-S of the Capitol.
All members were present except Representatives Kelley, Landwehr, Phelps, and Bethell, all of whom were excused.
Committee staff present:
Melissa Calderwood, Kansas
Legislative Research Department
Mary Galligan, Kansas Legislative
Research Department
Renae Jefferies, Revisor of
Statutes’ Office
Gary Deeter, Committee Secretary
Conferees appearing before the committee: None
Others attending:
See attached list.
The committee minutes for January 24 were approved.
Representative Kiegerl requested that HB 2650 be referred to the House Health Committee. The request was approved by the committee. The Chair asked the secretary to write a letter to the Speaker reflecting that request.
Representative Holland requested the committee sponsor two bills: the first, a bill requiring that hospitals report patient outcomes; the second, that a bill regarding breastfeeding now in a Senate committee be reintroduced through the House Health Committee. By motion, second, and vote, both requests were approved by the committee.
The Chair requested the committee sponsor a bill creating a board of health professions, an oversight board to regulate mid-level health professions. By motion, second, and unanimous vote, the request was approved.
The Chair asked Representative Watkins to update the committee on HB 2137, which requires vending machine companies to offer more healthy choices in public schools. He reported that the beverage association voluntarily agreed to remove pop machines in elementary and middle schools and offer wider choices in high schools, announcing their decision in November 2005 through a press conference. Representative Watkins said he met with snack machine vendors in December and asked them to follow the lead of beverage vendors; they said they would consider his request. To date he has not heard from them. He commented that snack vendors said they had not placed machines in elementary schools; however, he noted statistics from a Kansas Action for Children brochure stating that 43% of elementary schools, 89.4% of middle schools, and 98.2% of senior high schools have snack machines in their schools. A motion was made, seconded, and passed that if there is not a positive response from the snack vendor industry, a bill addressing snack machines be introduced.
The Chair offered further information to facilitate an effective electronic committee.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 26, 2006.